Meeting Minutes

June 5, 2018

Meeting was called to order by Matthew at 7:30am. Dick Pilling led the pledge.

Guests:

Mary Irwin, Karen Hogan, Rachel

Minutes:

Jack G moved to approve May 22 minutes. Julie H. seconded. Motion passed. Minutes were not printed, only emailed.

Julie Hatch still has Boys & Girls Club raffle tickets to win a Hawaii trip. Debbie gave out free tickets to a June 20 Lefties game on behalf of the EDC.

Program: Candidates for Judge, District Court 1

Pam Lindquist (PL) with experience in Forks and district court, believes mandatory community service will make a big difference in sentencing. She has represented clients in thousands of court cases.

Suzann Hayden (SH) with 23 years’ experience as a criminal defense attorney with Clallam Public Defender in county and superior courts, has enjoyed working with juveniles for 16 years.

Dave Neupert (DN) currently acting presiding judge for District 1, as VP of Peninsula Behavioral Health understands issues of homelessness, mental health and drugs, and knows how court can make people accountable. Also completed WA Judicial College.

Kaj: Costs of court are rising fast, how do you mitigate that?

PL: Review court processes on a regular basis, make it easier to navigate the system to gain access to services they are entitled to.

SH: Reduce costs by better cooperation from all parties, encourage resolutions to avoid trial, use sentencing as a way to help them – get GED, use community service to get job training.

DN: Court is no revenue generating, shortfall projected on indigent folks is $200-$400k. They are looking at applying Hargrave Funds to maintain services.

Cherie: If court is not allowed to fine indigents, how do you hold these people responsible if they claim to be indigent?

PL: Having no funds and being given a $3k bill doesn’t help. Community service can make up for that. Offenders can be paying back the community.

SH: Indigents are being asked to pay out of disability, welfare checks. Courts are looking at a common sense approach. Get them productive so they dn’t have to steal, although not all indigents steal.

DN: A lot is learned behavior. They need to understand there are consequences and will be held accountable. He’s a believer in community service.

Bill Benedict: Concerned with the rising cost of indigent defense and people continuing to steal, etc., not being held accountable.

PL: Agrees it’s using up goodwill of the community and our resources. Community service will teach job skills.

SH: All costs are rising. Public Defenders office employees average 25-30 years which is unusual for us, we have knowledgeable people. Community Service needs to be meaningful to them.

DN: HB1783 says courts can’t find indigents 125% of the poverty level. Give the jail time if they don’t complete community service. We can help with behavioral health and he will always make the best use of dollars.

Deb F: Can family court and district court work together? A TX court pays for community service to help.

PL: They can work together and must be consistent. Looking at Spokane area courts as example. We don’t have resources to pay them.

SH: Lift Court exists to give them support. Should meet with agencies to help exiting jail.

DN: Again, need to hold them accountable in a meaningful way. He already has good relationship with agencies, need to strengthen resources.

Randy J: What sets you all apart?

PL: A problem solver, fast paced, can keep personal opinions out.

SH: Complete undergrad in Japan, can look at arguments from all sides, look to better understand the person, is responsible to the person and community, will use a bottom up approach.

DN: Listens to everyone with respect and dignity. Every individual is different.

Kaj moved to extend the meeting up to 15 minutes, seconded by Kevin Hoult. Motion passed.

Guest Karen: Cited Les Mis. Not all can be saved. How can you change life of those that can be redeemed.

PL: People have to change themselves. She can steer & show them that they can be respected.

SH: Ask them what the roadblock is. In probation they make sure a person complies with the sentence. Would encourage get to know the people. Mix of social work would affect change.

DN: Each individual is different. Some are victims. Folks won’t want to repeat bad behavior. There should be no penalty box, but devise solutions for individual cases. He has positive feedback from families where this has worked.

Guest Rachel: 99% of thefts are drug related. What do you know about adverse childhood experiences?

PL: She doesn’t have the answers. The gold standard is opioid maintenance. Court can help those with adverse childhood experiences.

SH: It’s a crisis. There are programs like 12-step, offer them. She can’t make them clean / sober. Traumatic experience can be changed by one individual in their lives who support them no matter what.

DN: Alcohol is #1 drug of choice. PHB has Peer Pathfinders. Repeat offenders may eventually learn lesson. They need to work with each individual.

Kaj: Can mandatory treatment apply for offenders?

PL: It won’t help to force them. If they’re not willing, it won’t work.

SH: Interventions help. 85% who didn’t want it, and ended up going, will get some sort of help. It takes 90 days of being clean/sober until they understand what they’re talking about.

DN: They can be sent to Western State Hospital. Constitutional safeguards exist. At the local level, mental health court is looking to expand. Jail is not the place for them. A legislative overhaul will take major changes.